Prison healthcare
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In 1976, the United States Supreme Court ruled that adequate healthcare for prisoners is a constitutional right and that the refusal to provide them with such violates the Eighth Amendment prohibiting cruel and unusual punishment. As such, state budget allocations for correctional facilities, like other healthcare expenditures, have continued to grow, especially as the prison population ages. Correctional healthcare spending nationwide totaled $7.7 billion in 2011, or $6,047 per inmate, which The Pew Charitable Trusts estimated to be about one-fifth of total prison spending. This was up from 2007, but down from a peak in 2009 as the average daily prison population decreased. States have experienced fiscal pressure to manage prison healthcare costs without compromising prisoners' right to quality care.[1]
| “ |
The manner in which states manage prison health care services that meet these legal requirements affects not only inmates' health, but also the public's health and safety and taxpayers' total corrections bill.[2] |
” |
| —The Pew Charitable Trusts | ||
In 2011, California had the highest total prison healthcare spending at a little over $2.1 billion, as well as the highest per inmate spending at $14,495. The state saw an increase of 42 percent in per inmate spending between 2007 and 2011, the largest increase in the country. The state with the lowest total prison healthcare spending was North Dakota, which spent $6.4 million in 2011. However, Oklahoma had the lowest per inmate spending in the country at $2,558.[1]
The chart below provides details for all 50 states on total prison healthcare spending, average daily prison population, per inmate spending and the percent of inmates over age 55.
| State spending on prison healthcare | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State | Category | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | Percent change |
| Alabama | Total spending* | $89,057 | $92,465 | $94,206 | $96,215 | $97,266 | 9% |
| Daily prison population | 28,760 | 25,523 | 26,179 | 25,841 | 25,806 | -10% | |
| Per inmate spending | $3,097 | $3,623 | $3,599 | $3,723 | $3,769 | 22% | |
| Percent of inmates age 55+ | 6.3% | 6.7% | 6.7% | 7.2% | 7.9% | 25% | |
| Alaska | Total spending* | $31,108 | $32,014 | $33,424 | $43,050 | $38,963 | 25% |
| Daily prison population | 3,492 | 3,707 | 3,534 | 3,753 | 3,835 | 10% | |
| Per inmate spending | $8,908 | $8,636 | $9,458 | $11,471 | $10,160 | 14% | |
| Percent of inmates age 55+ | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
| Arizona | Total spending* | $138,223 | $158,454 | $161,691 | $138,273 | $129,627 | -6% |
| Daily prison population | 33,856 | 34,658 | 35,649 | 36,394 | 39,764 | 17% | |
| Per inmate spending | $4,083 | $4,572 | $4,536 | $3,799 | $3,260 | -20% | |
| Percent of inmates age 55+ | 5% | 5.2% | 5.7% | 6.3% | 6.8% | 36% | |
| Arkansas | Total spending* | $57,741 | $58,325 | $60,136 | $65,268 | $66,888 | 16% |
| Daily prison population | 13,762 | 14,402 | 14,529 | 15,136 | 16,057 | 17% | |
| Per inmate spending | $4,196 | $4,050 | $4,139 | $4,312 | $4,166 | -1% | |
| Percent of inmates age 55+ | 5.8% | 6.5% | 7.4% | 7.6% | 8.2% | 41% | |
| California | Total spending* | $1,688,342 | $2,277,690 | $2,577,835 | $2,218,926 | $2,137,045 | 27% |
| Daily prison population | 165,406 | 154,483 | 157,219 | 152,799 | 147,438 | -11% | |
| Per inmate spending | $10,207 | $14,744 | $16,396 | $14,522 | $14,495 | 42% | |
| Percent of inmates age 55+ | 5.7% | 6.4% | 7.1% | 7.9% | 8.8% | 54% | |
| Colorado | Total spending* | $85,725 | $93,611 | $98,457 | $99,331 | $102,355 | 19% |
| Daily prison population | 21,479 | 22,138 | 22,551 | 22,254 | 22,011 | 2% | |
| Per inmate spending | $3,991 | $4,229 | $4,366 | $4,464 | $4,650 | 17% | |
| Percent of inmates age 55+ | 5.3% | 5.7% | 6.3% | 7% | 7.7% | 45% | |
| Connecticut | Total spending* | $108,414 | $115,581 | $111,361 | $101,652 | $97,774 | -10% |
| Daily prison population | 19,965 | 20,633 | 19,662 | 19,264 | 18,762 | -6% | |
| Per inmate spending | $5,430 | $5,602 | $5,664 | $5,277 | $5,211 | -4% | |
| Percent of inmates age 55+ | 3.3% | 3.6% | 4% | 4.5% | 4.8% | 45% | |
| Delaware | Total spending* | $34,987 | $45,213 | $46,983 | $45,315 | $46,094 | 32% |
| Daily prison population | 7,086 | 7,171 | 7,048 | 6,764 | 6,605 | -7% | |
| Per inmate spending | $4,938 | $6,305 | $6,666 | $6,699 | $6,979 | 41% | |
| Percent of inmates age 55+ | 4.8% | 5.1% | 5.6% | 6.2% | 7.1% | 46% | |
| Florida | Total spending* | $409,646 | $443,595 | $416,244 | $427,795 | $424,592 | 4% |
| Daily prison population | 83,965 | 87,035 | 90,417 | 91,574 | 90,927 | 8% | |
| Per inmate spending | $4,879 | $5,097 | $4,604 | $4,672 | $4,670 | -4% | |
| Percent of inmates age 55+ | 7% | 7% | 7% | 8% | 9% | 29% | |
| Georgia | Total spending* | $206,094 | $229,106 | $215,069 | $207,282 | $208,103 | 1% |
| Daily prison population | 53,864 | 54,629 | 54,767 | 53,704 | 51,794 | -4% | |
| Per inmate spending | $3,826 | $4,194 | $3,927 | $3,860 | $4,018 | 5% | |
| Percent of inmates age 55+ | 6.3% | 6.8% | 6.9% | 7.5% | 7.9% | 26% | |
| Hawaii | Total spending* | $23,573 | $24,350 | $26,335 | $22,569 | $23,934 | 2% |
| Daily prison population | 5,638 | 5,520 | 5,461 | 5,258 | 5,303 | -6% | |
| Per inmate spending | $4,181 | $4,411 | $4,822 | $4,292 | $4,513 | 8% | |
| Percent of inmates age 55+ | 6% | 6% | 6% | 6.1% | 6% | -1% | |
| Idaho | Total spending* | $21,515 | $24,034 | $25,086 | $25,542 | $25,232 | 17% |
| Daily prison population | 4,737 | 4,861 | 4,919 | 5,000 | 5,159 | 9% | |
| Per inmate spending | $4,542 | $4,944 | $5,100 | $5,108 | $4,891 | 8% | |
| Percent of inmates age 55+ | N/A | 5.4% | 5.8% | 6.2% | 6.5% | 20% | |
| Illinois | Total spending* | $133,878 | $139,612 | $145,458 | $145,983 | $144,039 | 8% |
| Daily prison population | 44,049 | 43,992 | 44,310 | 44,742 | 47,212 | 7% | |
| Per inmate spending | $3,039 | $3,174 | $3,283 | $3,263 | $3,051 | 0% | |
| Percent of inmates age 55+ | 8% | 8% | 9% | 9% | 10% | 25% | |
| Indiana | Total spending* | $80,289 | $84,838 | $90,561 | $93,894 | $103,396 | 29% |
| Daily prison population | 23,999 | 24,903 | 26,017 | 26,417 | 26,800 | 12% | |
| Per inmate spending | $3,345 | $3,407 | $3,481 | $3,554 | $3,858 | 15% | |
| Percent of inmates age 55+ | 4.3% | 4.8% | 4.9% | 5.2% | 5.6% | 30% | |
| Iowa | Total spending* | $32,365 | $38,013 | $39,681 | $37,429 | $38,001 | 17% |
| Daily prison population | 8,856 | 8,765 | 8,712 | 8,384 | 8,816 | 0% | |
| Per inmate spending | $3,655 | $4,337 | $4,555 | $4,464 | $4,310 | 18% | |
| Percent of inmates age 55+ | 5.3% | 6.3% | 6.8% | 7.1% | 7.5% | 42% | |
| Kansas | Total spending* | $46,144 | $47,590 | $48,618 | $48,004 | $46,738 | 1% |
| Daily prison population | 8,770 | 8,651 | 8,473 | 8,575 | 8,914 | 2% | |
| Per inmate spending | $5,262 | $5,501 | $5,738 | $5,598 | $5,243 | 0% | |
| Percent of inmates age 55+ | 5.8% | 6.6% | 6.7% | 7.1% | 8.2% | 41% | |
| Kentucky | Total spending* | $49,933 | $59,279 | $61,226 | $65,587 | $62,972 | 26% |
| Daily prison population | 12,154 | 12,205 | 12,101 | 12,234 | 11,684 | -4% | |
| Per inmate spending | $4,108 | $4,857 | $5,060 | $5,361 | $5,390 | 31% | |
| Percent of inmates age 55+ | 5.3% | 5.5% | 5.8% | 6.4% | 6.3% | 19% | |
| Louisiana | Total spending* | $69,459 | $78,186 | $83,605 | $78,602 | $73,362 | 6% |
| Daily prison population | 16,147 | 16,205 | 16,586 | 15,849 | 15,742 | -3% | |
| Per inmate spending | $4,302 | $4,825 | $5,041 | $4,959 | $4,660 | 8% | |
| Percent of inmates age 55+ | 5.6% | 6% | 6.8% | 7.2% | 8% | 42% | |
| Maine | Total spending* | $14,676 | $14,195 | $14,939 | $15,798 | $17,049 | 16% |
| Daily prison population | 2,060 | 2,149 | 2,177 | 2,167 | 2,124 | 3% | |
| Per inmate spending | $7,124 | $6,605 | $6,862 | $7,290 | $8,027 | 13% | |
| Percent of inmates age 55+ | 6.6% | 7.6% | 8.7% | 8.4% | 9% | 36% | |
| Maryland | Total spending* | $142,071 | $121,166 | $130,873 | $145,852 | $147,856 |
4% |
| Daily prison population | 22,532 | 22,943 | 22,778 | 21,786 | 22,155 | -2% | |
| Per inmate spending | $6,305 | $5,281 | $5,746 | $6,695 | $6,674 | 6% | |
| Percent of inmates age 55+ | 5% | 4.5% | 5% | 6% | 7% | 40% | |
| Massachusetts | Total spending* | $81,567 | $100,606 | $102,357 | $96,261 | $95,348 | 17% |
| Daily prison population | 10,837 | 11,181 | 11,325 | 11,267 | 11,315 | 4% | |
| Per inmate spending | $7,527 | $8,998 | $9,038 | $8,544 | $8,427 | 12% | |
| Percent of inmates age 55+ | 8.5% | 8.8% | 9.4% | 9.9% | 10.4% | 23% | |
| Michigan | Total spending* | $335,525 | $340,223 | $352,120 | $343,538 | $330,400 | -2% |
| Daily prison population | 51,397 | 50,577 | 48,435 | 45,652 | 44,262 | -14% | |
| Per inmate spending | $6,528 | $6,727 | $7,270 | $7,525 | $7,465 | 14% | |
| Percent of inmates age 55+ | 7% | 8% | 8% | 8% | 9% | 29% | |
| Minnesota | Total spending* | $51,950 | $55,350 | $59,778 | $61,509 | $63,880 | 23% |
| Daily prison population | 7,655 | 7,720 | 8,230 | 9,024 | 9,209 | 20% | |
| Per inmate spending | $6,786 | $7,170 | $7,263 | $6,816 | $6,937 | 2% | |
| Percent of inmates age 55+ | 4.4% | 5% | 5.2% | 5.2% | 5.7% | 30% | |
| Mississippi | Total spending* | $57,775 | $66,743 | $66,262 | $69,299 | $64,575 | 12% |
| Daily prison population | 19,824 | 20,553 | 20,788 | 19,812 | 19,305 | -3% | |
| Per inmate spending | $2,914 | $3,247 | $3,188 | $3,498 | $3,345 | 15% | |
| Percent of inmates age 55+ | 6% | 5% | 5% | 6% | 6% | 0% | |
| Missouri | Total spending* | $110,545 | $127,086 | $132,805 | $138,756 | $142,988 | 29% |
| Daily prison population | 30,053 | 29,988 | 30,255 | 30,447 | 30,595 | 2% | |
| Per inmate spending | $3,678 | $4,238 | $4,390 | $4,557 | $4,674 | 27% | |
| Percent of inmates age 55+ | 5.9% | 6.7% | 7.2% | 6.8% | 7.5% | 27% | |
| Montana | Total spending* | $19,721 | $26,883 | $27,315 | $28,866 | $29,284 | 48% |
| Daily prison population | 3,193 | 3,199 | 3,309 | 3,408 | 3,464 | 8% | |
| Per inmate spending | $6,176 | $8,404 | $8,255 | $8,470 | $8,454 | 37% | |
| Percent of inmates age 55+ | 9% | 9.5% | 10.2% | 11.2% | 12.7% | 41% | |
| Nebraska | Total spending* | $27,709 | $28,620 | $29,453 | $31,498 | $32,363 | 17% |
| Daily prison population | 4,385 | 4,387 | 4,400 | 4,462 | 4,552 | 4% | |
| Per inmate spending | $6,319 | $6,524 | $6,694 | $7,059 | $7,110 | 13% | |
| Percent of inmates age 55+ | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
| Nevada | Total spending* | $43,016 | $44,411 | $49,782 | $48,539 | $46,593 | 8% |
| Daily prison population | 12,813 | 12,992 | 12,818 | 12,529 | 12,466 | -3% | |
| Per inmate spending | $3,357 | $3,418 | $3,884 | $3,874 | $3,738 | 11% | |
| Percent of inmates age 55+ | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
| New Hampshire | Total spending* | $19,586 | $26,884 | $24,913 | $24,817 | $23,564 | 20% |
| Daily prison population | 2,467 | 2,481 | 2,490 | 2,445 | 2,312 | -6% | |
| Per inmate spending | $7,941 | $10,836 | $10,004 | $10,150 | $10,191 | 28% | |
| Percent of inmates age 55+ | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
| New Jersey | Total spending* | $158,019 | $159,238 | $150,122 | $151,170 | $141,752 | -10% |
| Daily prison population | 27,238 | 26,787 | 25,923 | 24,928 | 24,316 | -11% | |
| Per inmate spending | $5,801 | $5,945 | $5,791 | $6,064 | $5,830 | 0% | |
| Percent of inmates age 55+ | 4.2% | 4.6% | 5% | 5.5% | 5.8% | 40% | |
| New Mexico | Total spending* | $41,036 | $52,418 | $53,533 | $55,391 | $48,790 | 19% |
| Daily prison population | 6,672 | 6,459 | 6,363 | 6,671 | 6,669 | 0% | |
| Per inmate spending | $6,150 | $8,115 | $8,413 | $8,303 | $7,316 | 19% | |
| Percent of inmates age 55+ | 6.1% | 6.6% | 7.3% | 7.2% | 8% | 31% | |
| New York | Total spending* | $363,460 | $377,928 | $386,396 | $372,454 | $360,567 | -1% |
| Daily prison population | 63,728 | 63,538 | 61,457 | 59,237 | 57,054 | -10% | |
| Per inmate spending | $5,703 | $5,948 | $6,287 | $6,288 | $6,320 | 11% | |
| Percent of inmates age 55+ | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
| North Carolina | Total spending* | $233,169 | $253,454 | $276,005 | $274,532 | $255,125 | 9% |
| Daily prison population | 37,886 | 38,684 | 40,108 | 40,426 | 40,581 | 7% | |
| Per inmate spending | $6,154 | $6,552 | $6,882 | $6,791 | $6,287 | 2% | |
| Percent of inmates age 55+ | 5.3% | 5.6% | 6.1% | 6.4% | 7% | 33% | |
| North Dakota | Total spending* | $5,248 | $5,555 | $6,514 | $6,681 | $6,350 | 21% |
| Daily prison population | 1,153 | 1,162 | 1,180 | 1,198 | 1,221 | 6% | |
| Per inmate spending | $4,552 | $4,781 | $5,520 | $5,577 | $5,201 | 14% | |
| Percent of inmates age 55+ | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
| Ohio | Total spending* | $287,087 | $281,926 | $303,040 | $301,032 | $279,716 | -3% |
| Daily prison population | 46,187 | 47,683 | 48,726 | 48,796 | 48,602 | 5% | |
| Per inmate spending | $6,216 | $5,913 | $6,219 | $6,169 | $5,755 | -7% | |
| Percent of inmates age 55+ | 5.9% | 6.3% | 6.5% | 6.8% | 7.5% | 28% | |
| Oklahoma | Total spending* | $73,293 | $73,545 | $68,002 | $64,353 | $62,692 | -14% |
| Daily prison population | 23,867 | 24,309 | 24,391 | 24,549 | 24,511 | 3% | |
| Per inmate spending | $3,071 | $3,025 | $2,788 | $2,621 | $2,558 | -17% | |
| Percent of inmates age 55+ | 6.6% | 7% | 7.3% | 8.1% | 8.8% | 33% | |
| Oregon | Total spending* | $80,778 | $82,648 | $100,872 | $93,662 | $103,836 | 29% |
| Daily prison population | 13,264 | 13,766 | 13,620 | 13,819 | 14,116 | 6% | |
| Per inmate spending | $6,090 | $6,004 | $7,406 | $6,778 | $7,356 | 21% | |
| Percent of inmates age 55+ | 10.7% | 11.8% | 12.7% | 12.8% | 13.8% | 30% | |
| Pennsylvania | Total spending* | $218,758 | $231,421 | $241,122 | $254,647 | $262,024 | 20% |
| Daily prison population | 42,998 | 46,028 | 50,622 | 53,416 | 55,696 | 30% | |
| Per inmate spending | $5,088 | $5,028 | $4,763 | $4,767 | $4,705 | -8% | |
| Percent of inmates age 55+ | 7.3% | 7.4% | 7.7% | 8.3% | 8.9% | 22% | |
| Rhode Island | Total spending* | $22,038 | $22,633 | $22,155 | $19,819 | $19,364 | -12% |
| Daily prison population | 3,771 | 3,860 | 3,773 | 3,502 | 3,273 | -13% | |
| Per inmate spending | $5,844 | $5,864 | $5,872 | $5,659 | $5,916 | 1% | |
| Percent of inmates age 55+ | 5.1% | 5.6% | 6.2% | 6.3% | 6.7% | 31% | |
| South Carolina | Total spending* | $68,633 | $69,213 | $75,944 | $71,705 | $68,520 | 0% |
| Daily prison population | 23,437 | 23,958 | 24,081 | 24,105 | 23,358 | 0% | |
| Per inmate spending | $2,928 | $2,889 | $3,154 | $2,975 | $2,933 | 0% | |
| Percent of inmates age 55+ | 4.8% | 5.1% | 5.8% | 6.4% | 7% | 46% | |
| South Dakota | Total spending* | $16,467 | $16,738 | $17,536 | $18,054 | $17,487 | 6% |
| Daily prison population | 3,412 | 3,373 | 3,428 | 3,496 | 3,479 | 2% | |
| Per inmate spending | $4,826 | $4,962 | $5,116 | $5,164 | $5,026 | 4% | |
| Percent of inmates age 55+ | 6% | 6% | 7% | 7% | 8% | 33% | |
| Tennessee | Total spending* | $77,488 | $82,744 | $88,599 | $90,985 | $95,090 | 23% |
| Daily prison population | 14,035 | 14,095 | 14,103 | 14,640 | 14,885 | 6% | |
| Per inmate spending | $5,521 | $5,870 | $6,282 | $6,215 | $6,388 | 16% | |
| Percent of inmates age 55+ | 6.3% | 7% | 7.6% | 7.9% | 8.3% | 30% | |
| Texas | Total spending* | $464,354 | $505,633 | $555,101 | $583,760 | $581,555 | 25% |
| Daily prison population | 151,814 | 151,713 | 150,570 | 151,227 | 152,841 | 1% | |
| Per inmate spending | $3,059 | $3,333 | $3,687 | $3,860 | $3,805 | 24% | |
| Percent of inmates age 55+ | 6.6% | 7% | 7.6% | 8.1% | 8.7% | 32% | |
| Utah | Total spending* | $25,968 | $28,481 | $31,571 | $30,094 | $29,529 | 14% |
| Daily prison population | 6,300 | 6,389 | 6,321 | 6,338 | 6,700 | 6% | |
| Per inmate spending | $4,122 | $4,458 | $4,995 | $4,748 | $4,407 | 7% | |
| Percent of inmates age 55+ | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
| Vermont | Total spending* | $16,340 | $16,175 | $17,279 | $18,064 | $18,077 | 11% |
| Daily prison population | 1,619 | 1,545 | 1,552 | 1,555 | 1,537 | -5% | |
| Per inmate spending | $10,092 | $10,469 | $11,133 | $11,616 | $11,761 | 17% | |
| Percent of inmates age 55+ | 10.1% | 10.4% | 12.3% | 12.9% | 13.7% | 36% | |
| Virginia | Total spending* | $130,003 | $142,427 | $143,099 | $149,298 | $149,850 | 15% |
| Daily prison population | 30,286 | 32,060 | 32,078 | 30,337 | 30,772 | 2% | |
| Per inmate spending | $4,293 | $4,443 | $4,461 | $4,921 | $4,870 | 13% | |
| Percent of inmates age 55+ | 6.1% | 6.5% | 7.1% | 8% | 8.6% | 41% | |
| Washington | Total spending* | $117,865 | $140,581 | $143,222 | $128,503 | $119,253 | 1% |
| Daily prison population | 16,108 | 16,280 | 16,564 | 16,995 | 16,997 | 6% | |
| Per inmate spending | $7,317 | $8,635 | $8,646 | $7,561 | $7,016 | -4% | |
| Percent of inmates age 55+ | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
| West Virginia | Total spending* | $21,291 | $20,669 | $25,074 | $24,931 | $23,150 | 9% |
| Daily prison population | 4,448 | 4,917 | 4,940 | 5,052 | 5,093 | 15% | |
| Per inmate spending | $4,787 | $4,204 | $5,076 | $4,935 | $4,545 | -5% | |
| Percent of inmates age 55+ | 9.3% | 10.9% | 11.1% | 11.6% | 13.2% | 42% | |
| Wisconsin | Total spending* | $151,546 | $148,519 | $156,868 | $153,093 | $156,060 | 3% |
| Daily prison population | 22,500 | 22,627 | 22,294 | 22,325 | 22,042 | -2% | |
| Per inmate spending | $6,735 | $6,564 | $7,036 | $6,858 | $7,080 | 5% | |
| Percent of inmates age 55+ | 5.2% | 5.7% | 6.1% | 6.8% | 7.5% | 44% | |
| Wyoming | Total spending* | $15,397 | $16,888 | $16,243 | $19,582 | $20,707 | 34% |
| Daily prison population | 1,315 | 1,212 | 1,526 | 1,864 | 1,905 | 45% | |
| Per inmate spending | $11,709 | $13,934 | $10,644 | $10,505 | $10,870 | -7% | |
| Percent of inmates age 55+ | 8% | 8.5% | 8.3% | 9.3% | 9.9% | 24% | |
| United States | Total spending* | $6,798,873 | $7,722,955 | $8,204,873 | $7,847,256 | $7,679,772 | 13% |
| Daily prison population | 1,265,239 | 1,268,096 | 1,278,759 | 1,271,416 | 1,270,036 | 0% | |
| Per inmate spending | $5,374 | $6,090 | $6,416 | $6,172 | $6,047 | 13% | |
| Percent of inmates age 55+ | 6.2% | 6.6% | 7.1% | 7.6% | 8.2% | 33% | |
| * In thousands. Source: The Pew Charitable Trusts, "State Prison Health Care Spending" | |||||||
Healthcare policy in the 50 states
Click on a state below to read more about healthcare policy in that state.
See also
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 The Pew Charitable Trusts, "State Prison Health Care Spending," July 2014
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
